Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's regular press conference on November 30, 2021
CCTV reporter: We noticed that yesterday, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and delivered a keynote speech entitled "We will help each other in the same boat, carry forward the past, and join hands to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in a new era." Can the spokesperson give further details on the situation?
Zhao Lijian: President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and delivered a keynote speech. It was the highlight of this meeting and attracted the attention of the people of China and Africa and the international community.
In his speech, President Xi Jinping reviewed the historical achievements of China-Africa diplomatic relations over the past 65 years, and summarized and refined the "China-Africa friendly and cooperative spirit", that is, "sincere friendship, equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win, common development, uphold justice, Defend justice, adapt to the current situation, and be open and tolerant."
President Xi Jinping positively evaluated the achievements of China-Africa cooperation since the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and put forward four propositions on building a China-Africa community with a shared future for a new era, namely, insisting on uniting to fight the epidemic, deepening practical cooperation, promoting green development, and maintaining fairness and justice; The "Nine Projects" of China-Africa pragmatic cooperation in the next three years will involve areas such as health, poverty reduction and benefiting agriculture, trade promotion, investment-driven, digital innovation, green development, capacity building, cultural exchanges, peace and security, and call on China and Africa to work together Work hard to inherit and carry forward the "China-Africa friendly and cooperative spirit" and promote the construction of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
President Xi Jinping's speech made a strategic plan and top-level design for future China-Africa cooperation, and drew a magnificent blueprint for China-Africa friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in a new era, which was highly praised and highly appreciated by African countries and people.
China will implement the solemn promises made by President Xi Jinping in his speech, and work with Africa to implement the consensus of the leaders of China and Africa and the outcomes of the forum meetings, and promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future for a new era.
"Beijing Daily" reporter: Recently, the media reported that the State Border Commission of Belarus discovered two refugee bodies one after another, as well as traces of dragging the wounded bodies across the border from Lithuanian territory, and accused Lithuanian border guards of deliberately murdering refugees. According to other reports, Lithuanian authorities dragged a refugee who was seven months pregnant to the Belarusian border and threw it on the grass. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Zhao Lijian: The tragic experience of these refugees is heartbreaking and indignation.
The two living beings will never see the sun tomorrow.
What is even more sad is that the report you mentioned is probably only the tip of the iceberg of human rights violations in Lithuania.
According to relevant reports, Lithuanian prison guards deliberately abused prisoners and abused violence.
There has been a Jewish massacre in Lithuania’s history. Today, the problem of racism is still very serious. Jews and other minorities have suffered severe discrimination, and their rights to seek medical treatment and travel have been deprived and violated.
Lithuania’s children’s rights have also been severely violated.
The response rate of the Lithuanian child rights protection hotline is extremely low, and the number of orphanages is insufficient to accommodate existing orphans.
According to reports from relevant international organizations, more than 20% of Lithuania’s sex workers are minors.
Lithuania has a bad record in the field of human rights, violating relevant provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and international human rights law.
The Lifang should make a deep reflection and give the international community a responsible account.
"China Daily" reporter: Recently, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the United States, said in an interview that China had a new crown epidemic in November 2019 or earlier. He also claimed that China's killing of the South China Seafood Market was to "ensure that the target is not directed at itself." What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: We regret Mr. Fauci's remarks.
Environmental disinfection is an important means of epidemic prevention and control. It can effectively eliminate and block the spread of the virus. It is a scientific and professional practice widely adopted by countries all over the world.
In the face of unknown viruses and sudden epidemics, the Chinese government insists that the people are supreme and life is supreme, and it is beyond reproach to adopt normal prevention and control measures.
In particular, it needs to be emphasized that China's prevention and control measures and prevention and control experience have kept the world's key defense lines for epidemic prevention and control, and won valuable time for countries to respond to the epidemic.
After the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, China has always adhered to a scientific, transparent and responsible attitude to participate in global traceability scientific cooperation.
The Chinese side immediately released epidemic information to home and abroad, notified the WHO and the international community of the epidemic as soon as possible, and determined and announced the full genetic sequence of the virus as soon as possible.
China has also taken the lead in conducting joint research with the WHO, and twice invited WHO experts to conduct on-site inspections in China, and achieved important and positive results.
The work done by China has laid a solid foundation for global scientific traceability and can stand the test of history.
Respect for facts and stress on science are the basic requirements of virus traceability and all scientific research.
Presupposing conclusions on this issue, especially groundless speculation, will only interfere with global scientific traceability and undermine international anti-epidemic cooperation.
You have also seen that the global epidemic is still ups and downs, and all countries should focus on fighting the epidemic scientifically, do their own homework, strengthen international cooperation, and build a vaccine barrier.
ATV reporter: According to reports, protests broke out in the Gwadar region last week, opposing the excessive issuance of fishing permits to Chinese trawlers, saying that this will not benefit local residents and will have a negative impact on the livelihoods of local fishermen. Does the spokesperson have any further response?
Zhao Lijian: This is completely false news.
Some media made false claims that the protests against China in the Gwadar region had no factual basis.
It has been verified that no Chinese trawler has gone to the waters of Guagang to fish or dock.
I reiterate that Gwadar Port, as the leading project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has always focused on development and benefited the people's livelihood.
In the process of advancing relevant cooperation, China has always adhered to the principles of mutual respect and consensus.
China firmly opposes that individual media violate professional ethics and ethics in journalism, concoct false information, and maliciously discredit the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and China-Pakistan relations.
Phoenix TV reporter: According to reports, Australian Prime Minister Morrison stated that Australia cannot show “weakness” in the face of China’s increasing combativeness. He supported the Australian Defense Minister Dutton's assessment of the situation. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Zhao Lijian: In his speech at the Australian National Press Club, Australian Defender Dutton continued to preach his delusional misjudgment of China’s foreign policy, wantonly distorted China’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and misled Australia on the regional situation and priorities. The people, inciting conflicts and divisions between nations and people.
His relevant remarks run counter to the current trend of world peace, development and cooperation, undermine regional peace and stability, and are extremely irresponsible. China firmly opposes it. Many people of insight in Australia have also criticized his remarks.
Australia is a beneficiary of China's development, and China has never done anything that undermines Australia's sovereignty.
Australia should view China and China’s development objectively and rationally, and avoid strategic misjudgments.
Certain Australian politicians should stop playing up the "China threat" out of their own political self-interest, and not go all the way to the dark.
Yonhap News Agency reporter: According to reports, South Korea's National Security Office Xu Xun will visit China on December 2 to discuss matters related to the declaration of the end of the war with the Chinese side. Where will Xu Xun and Director Yang Jiechi hold the meeting? What is the topic of the meeting?
Zhao Lijian: I have no news to release for the time being.
Please continue to pay attention.
Agence France-Presse: First, the US Department of Defense stated that it will strengthen its military bases in Guam and Australia to strengthen its defense against China. What's China's response to this? Second, the WHO Assembly will hold a vote this week to decide whether to formulate a binding treaty or convention in order to help WHO better respond to the epidemic. Will China support this treaty? What's your position on this? How will China contribute to this treaty? What are you looking forward to?
Zhao Lijian: Regarding the first question, the relevant report of the US Department of Defense fully exposed the true intention of the US to militarize the Indo-Pacific and spare no effort to contain and contain China.
China's development of its own national defense capabilities is entirely necessary to safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development interests, and to maintain peace and security in the international region. It is fundamentally different from the United States' global display of force, hegemony and hegemony, and the destruction of regional peace and stability.
We firmly oppose the use of the "China threat theory" by the US as an excuse to increase military expenditures, expand military power, and maintain military hegemony.
The US should abandon the Cold War mentality of creating imaginary enemies and stop its words and deeds that threaten international peace and security.
Regarding your second question, China has always been committed to pandemic prevention and response, and is open to any efforts and measures that will help strengthen global solidarity and coordinate the response to future pandemics.
We are willing to maintain communication and coordination with all parties on the conclusion of the "Pandemic Treaty". We hope that the relevant process will be carried out under the framework of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to ensure the universal participation of member states, while avoiding politicization, stigma, and tools. change.
Kyodo News Agency reporter: The Omi Keron mutant strain is now circulating in the world. Will this affect the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics? Does China think that the Beijing Winter Olympics can be held as scheduled?
Zhao Lijian: China appreciates South Africa's timely sharing of relevant information on the discovery of new variant strains of the new coronavirus with the world.
China believes that the response to the epidemic should be based on science and support the World Health Organization to continue to play a leading role in assisting countries in responding to the epidemic and promoting international anti-epidemic cooperation.
The epidemic is the common enemy of all mankind.
China is willing to continue to work with the international community, including southern African countries, to unite, cooperate and work together to finally defeat the new crown virus.
Regarding the impact you mentioned on the Winter Olympics, I think this will definitely bring some prevention and control challenges.
But with China’s experience in the prevention and control of the new crown virus, I am fully confident that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be successfully held as scheduled.
AFP reporter: The Pacific island of New Caledonia will hold a referendum in mid-December to decide whether to become independent from France. Does China support its independence? Some people worry that this will be an opportunity for China to increase its influence in the Pacific island countries. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Those people may think too much.
The New Caledonia independence referendum is an internal matter for France, and China does not comment on this.
Hubei Radio and Television reporter: Recently, Russian President Putin and Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashnyan held a tripartite meeting in Sochi to discuss the disputes between the two countries and issued a joint statement. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Zhao Lijian: China appreciates Russia's efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia are friendly cooperative partners of China.
China sincerely hopes that the two sides will meet each other halfway, resolve their contradictions and differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability and people’s peace of life.
Xinhua News Agency: On the 28th, Kortunov, Director-General of the International Affairs Committee of a well-known Russian think tank, stated that the United States initiated the so-called "Democracy Summit" as an "attempt to transform the colorful modern world into a black and white world." What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: I have noticed relevant reports.
I have also noticed that many scholars have recently made pertinent criticisms of American democracy.
American Atlantic Council fellows Fried and Jackson said that the United States needs to ask itself what caused the decline of democracy, and seriously address the flaws in its own democracy.
Abrams, a senior fellow at the US Council on Foreign Relations, said that the United States spends billions of dollars each year to "promote democracy" around the world, but related projects have been seriously distorted under profit-oriented stimuli.
The United States must conduct a comprehensive review of "promotion of democracy."
Scott, a researcher at the Roy Institute in Australia, said that the United States should admit that its democratic flaws have weakened its authority and should remain humble when discussing the state of democracy in other countries.
No democracy is a panacea.
Countries in the world have a common pursuit of democratic values.
The discussion on the value of practical democracy should be rich and inclusive.
Countries with different national conditions and different social systems should exchange and learn from each other.
The United States insists on exporting so-called "democracy" with a sense of superiority, even interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and engaging in military aggression, which can only bring turmoil, war and refugees to relevant countries.
The United States insists on portraying the colorful world with black and white film, monopolizes the definition of democracy with its own standards, ignores the huge differences in culture, history and civilization of different countries, and writes and directs itself as the so-called democratic "judge". This in itself is a mockery of democracy and is the biggest one. Not democratic.
What I want to emphasize is that the United States has no right to call itself a "democratic model."
The essence of the United States to piece together the so-called "democracy summit" and sell the "democracy against authoritarian" narrative is to revive the Cold War mentality, instigate division and opposition, and serve its own hegemonic conspiracy.
The US action to undermine democracy under the banner of "promoting democracy" is "risking the world's ill will," and it can only end in failure.